Improvement in mowing-machines



W. H. KNIGHT. Mowing Machine.

No. 89,412. I Patented April 27, y1869.

12V/lessee,.-

UNITED STATI-:xs PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. KNIGHT, OF EAST MACHIAS, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-MACHINES..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,412, dated April 27, 1869.

1'0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. KNIGHT, of East Machias, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Mowing-Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved mowing-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken on the plane of the line :v :c of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

his invention relates to a new mowingmachine, in which the motion from the driving-wheel is transmitted to the cutter bar or bars entirely by means of levers, without the use of any cog-wheels whatever, so that thereby a large amount of friction is saved'and much power gained.

The invention consists in the arrangement of the levers for transmitting the motion, in the manner of connecting them for use on double cutters, and in the application of means for regulating the height of the cutting apparatus and for throwing the same out of gear.

The machine is of that class in which the cutting apparatus is in front of the driving wheel or wheels.

A in the drawing` represents a rectangular narrow frame, made of wood or other suitable material, ofsui table size and shape. In its rear part are the bearings for the axle B of the driving wheel or wheels C, and in front is a small supporting-wheel, D, as shown in Fig. 1, so that thereby the frame is held in an inclined position.

In arms a a, that project downward from the frame A, is held in front 0f the wheel C a fixed horizontal bar, b, in which one or two bellcranks, E E, are pivoted so that they can l slide on the said bar. These bell-cranks t with their longer rear arms between the forked lower ends of levers F F, that are pivoted to a cross-bar, c, of the frame. The levers F are, by means of bell-cranks and links d d, connected with rods e c, that are suspended from the end of a lever, G, pivoted to an arm, f, projecting' from the frame.

By elevating the rear end of the-1ever G, the bell-cranks d will be turned so as to swing the lower ends of the levers F F apart. Thereby the cranks E are moved laterally apart on the bar d. Before the cranks E were thus swung apart, they were respectively near the two sides of the wheel F, so as to be within reach of pins g g that project from the two sides of the wheel, as shown. These pins, as the wheel revolves during the forward motion of the machine, strike the rear end of the said bell-cranks E and make them swing on the pin el. The pins g g are set on the two sides of the wheel, so as to strike the two cranks E alternately at regular intervals. The two cranks E are connected with each other by means of a cord or chain, h, passing over axed pulley, t'. Thus, when one of them is swung down by the action of a pin, g, it will, by means of the connection h, swing the other bell-crank E up, so as to put it in position for the next stroke of a pin, g. Thereby continuous oscillating motion is imparted to the two bell-cranks E as long as the machine is in motion.

By means of the lever G they can, as aforesaid, be moved apart, whereby they will be out of reach of the pins g. Then the motion of the bell-cranks E will be stopped. Thelever G can be locked in the gear or out of gear position by means of a catch, j, that projects from the frame B.

In case but one bell-crank, E, is to be used, there will only be pins g on one side of the wheel, and a spring or weight would have to be used to elevate the bell-crank E after it has been depressed by a pin, g.

In front of the frame A is the linger-bar H, which is, by means of braces o c, connected with and pivoted to the arms a, as shown. From the finger-bar projects upward a vertical arm, k, which tits through a tube or guideplate, l, of the frame A, and the finger-bar is, by means of a cord or chain, m, and rod n, connected with a lever, I, that is pivoted to the rear part of the frame. By this device the finger-bar and its appendages can be elevated orlowered at will, so as to be any desired dis.

tance above ground. The lever I can be locked in a suitable notched plate, o, as shown.

J J are two cutter-bars, tted upon the 1inger-bar H, so that they can slide thereon. They are held down either by means of bolts or screws p, fitting through slots of the cutterbars, orby other suitable equivalent apparatus.

Each bell-crank E is, by means of two rods, i' i", connected with two small cranks, .s s, that are, by means of a common pin, t, or separately, it' desired, pivoted to a lug projecting from the back of the finger-bar. In this manner there are four cranks, s's, provided, all of which oscillate around their pivots t, receiving their motion from the bell-cranks E. Y Each crank s is, by means of a link or rod, u, connected with one of the cutter-bars, thereby iinparting reciprocating motion to the same.

The two cranks s, connected with one of the cranks E, connect respectively with the two cutter-bars. It will, from the above, be clear that one crank, E, will sufce to move two cutter-bars. Two are, however, preferable, as they impart a more regular motion. The same apparatus may also be used with but one cutter-bar, employing in that case either two or one bell-crank, E.

The links u can be dispensed with, as the rod, b, and connected, by means of levers F d and rods e, with a lever, G, so that they'can be moved apart and out of gcar with the driving-wheel, as specified.

3. The arrangement of the pivoted bars c, vertical arm 7c, guide-plate l, cord or chain m, rod n, and lever I with reference to the finger-bar H and frame A, as herein described, for the purpose specified.

WVM. H. KNIGHT.

Witnesses HENRY W. ALLIN, E. E. WIsWELL. 

